What makes a good server?

[bef]

After debating with myself for several years as to why certain servers attract a large playercount and others don't, I figured it best to pose the question to the Graal community.

What makes a good server?
There are servers currently listed which I'd consider good only as a result of their playercount, and not as a result of quality content...

I question the intentions of Graalians, what do you get out of the server you play?

I personally play Shaded Legend, reason being; SL has a rich storyline, involved and challenging quests and an era which the entire server is based around. It also keeps classic elements of Graal, whilst slightly adapting and improving them. The only "unattractive" part of Shaded Legend is the lacking playercount, I wonder why it's lacking...

Unholy Nation, a thriving server, has a staff member who informed me the server was "medieval", unfortunately this "era" isn't constant, nor is it even apparent... There's cars and motorbikes, guns and such forth...

So is it merely the ability to play a server with a crippled economy where you can easily work your way to self-respect by gaining gralats that keeps you playing servers? Or is it the variety and range of NPC's and items which you find attractive?

Along with Shaded Legend, I also respect;
Graal Classic as it is truly original
Maloria as it has implemented entirely new and functional systems
Zenkou as it's standards surpass anything I have ever seen on this game.

I truly do not undertstand players reasons for choosing one server over another- if the server they are choosing has absolutely nothing to respect, bar the playercount.

Saying a server is good because Sparring is a central focus and is given huge importance is fine, however most servers use the same battle system and what you really like is the fact that the playercount is high, so the spar activity is also high.

You see, I'll continue to play Shaded Legend in hope that players will realise that SL's quality is excellent, as is it's consistancy and depth... Players aren't attracted because they see the playercount is low, is that really a reason not to give a great server a chance? No, it's not - you oughta give each server a chance and play it regardless of the playercount... If you like a server and it's lacking players, Do as I do and tell your friends or the community what you like about that server and how it is better than other servers which are played by a higher percentage of the Graalian Public.

I hope some people respond and defend or promote the servers they love and also throw in their reasons for choosing one server over another. I hope nobody becomes overly negative, a thread closure is not what I am aiming for!

Thanks for reading...